Mailbox with mounted vehicle

ABSTRACT

The mailbox comprises a box portion with wheel-like formations extended thereon, and a separate car body portion in the shape of a car body, but without wheels, wherein the car body portion is adapted to be mounted onto the box portion. The wheels can be molded on the box portion, or otherwise secured thereto, either permanently or removably. The car body portion can be a replica of a NASCAR racing car, with appropriate advertising on it, which can be used to promote the sponsors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mailbox, and in particular, a mailboxhaving a miniature replica of a vehicle mounted thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Regular mailboxes used by homeowners are very standard in size andshape. They are typically black and serve as mailboxes, nothing more.

Some people have begun to “dress up” mailboxes—i.e., give thempersonality. Sports enthusiasts, for example, have created mailboxeswith unique designs, such as mailboxes in the shape of football helmets.This way, fans can show enthusiasm for their favorite teams, such as byhaving mailboxes with team logos in their front yard, which can be seenby the entire neighborhood. For example, in Green Bay, Wis., nearlyeveryone is a “Packers” fan. What better way to support the Packers ongame day than to have a mailbox in the shape of a Packers helmet infront of the house?

One of the most popular sports these days is NASCAR racing. Advertisingon NASCAR racing cars, and promotional items featuring NASCAR emblems,logos and driver's names, etc., have become huge business. NASCAR iseven considered to be America's number one spectator sport, surpassingfootball and baseball.

Due to the popularity of NASCAR, there have been attempts in the past tocreate mailboxes in the shape of racing cars. Some of these designs areshown in Pat. Nos. Des. 346,266, Des. 371,888, Des. 347,927, Des.411,906, Des. 441,171, Des. 443,401, and Des. 413,422. All of thesedesigns have racing car shapes situated on a mailbox.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combination of a mailbox with aminiature replica of a vehicle, such as a NASCAR racing car, mountedthereon.

In one aspect, the invention comprises a relatively standard shaped andsized mailbox portion having a pivoting front cover for opening thecompartment in which the mail is to be placed. This “box portion” isoften rectangular in shape, extending lengthwise in the fore and aftdirection, although not necessarily so.

An important feature of the present invention relates to how theminiature replica of the vehicle is configured and mounted to the boxportion. In the preferred embodiment, the vehicle portion is configuredin the shape of a car body, without wheels, hereinafter referred to asthe “car body portion.” For example, when NASCAR racing cars are used,this means that the car body portion is in the shape of a NASCAR racingcar with logos, emblems, etc., printed on them, similar to an actualNASCAR racing car. The car body portion itself looks like a car body,but with the wheels removed.

Another important feature of the invention relates to how the wheels areattached to the box portion. In the preferred embodiment, the wheelsthat are associated with the car body portion are preferably formedintegrally on the box portion, separate from the car body portion. Thatis, the wheels are preferably either formed as part of the box portion,or substantially permanently affixed or secured thereto, or, the wheelscan be adapted to snap into the box portion. In either case, the wheelsare preferably not formed with the car body portion.

For example, in one embodiment, when the box portion is made of moldedplastic, and the mailbox is designed with a NASCAR racing car, there arepreferably four wheel-shaped formations (resembling racing car wheels)molded onto and extending from the top surface of the box portion. Thesewheel formations are preferably specifically shaped like miniaturewheels belonging to the racing car, and located so that they fit insidethe fender areas of the car body portion. The wheels can also be mountedsubstantially permanently onto the box portion, by any conventionalmeans, such as when the box portion is made of metal, or is not madefrom molded plastic. In an alternate embodiment, the wheels can beseparately molded and adapted to snap into the car body portion.

Based on these designs, different car bodies with different designs,such as with different logos, emblems, driver's names, etc., on them,can be provided, so that whenever a fan wants to put on a different carbody, they can easily replace the existing car body with a new car bodyportion, but without having to replace the wheels. That is, to replacethe existing car body, one simply has to remove the car body portion,leaving behind the four wheel-shaped formations located on the boxportion, so that all they have to do is replace the car body portion inorder to have a new and different-looking racing car mounted on themailbox.

This allows the replacement of the car body portion to be easilyaccomplished and done at a relatively low cost, since only the car bodyportion, without the wheels, would have to be replaced. It also makes itpossible to mount the car body portion, if desired, flush with the topsurface of the box portion, without having to mount separate wheels orwheel-like formations to the mailbox.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view of the mailbox of the present invention from anangle slightly forward of the mailbox lid and behind the car;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the mailbox of the present invention from anangle slightly ahead of the car;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the mailbox of the present inventionwith the car body portion positioned above the box portion, and the lidseparated from the mailbox;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present inventionshowing the wheels, which are formed separately and adapted to snap intothe box portion, separated from the box portion in an exploded view;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4,showing the wheels, which are formed separately and adapted to snap intothe box portion, separated from the box portion in an exploded view;

FIG. 8 is a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective views of the present invention, with abox portion 2 situated below a car body portion 4. The box portion 2 ispreferably similar to a conventional mailbox with a lid portion 6 on oneend that is hinged so that it can be opened and closed in a conventionalmanner. Inside box portion 2 is preferably a compartment 5, partiallyshown in FIG. 3, in which mail, including envelopes, letters, packages,etc., can be placed.

The lid portion 6 is preferably designed so that it can be closed andstay shut without accidentally being opened. This can be accomplished byany conventional means. For example, lid portion 6 can be made to have afriction fit around an opening 8 extending around one end of box portion2, so that friction prevents lid portion 6 from inadvertently opening. Ahandle (not shown) or any other means for holding lid portion 6 to makeit easier to grasp can be provided. The hinges (not shown) can belocated on any side-wall of box portion 2, to allow lid portion 6 to beopened and closed.

The box portion 2 can be like any conventional mailbox, and ispreferably rectangular in shape, although not necessarily so. Theembodiment shown has a rectangular shaped box portion 2 extendinglongitudinally in the fore and aft direction, with lid portion 6 locatedon one end (which preferably faces the street). Box portion 2 preferablyhas side walls 10, 12, an end wall 14 at the front, and a bottom wall16, along with opening 8 on the back end on which lid portion 6 islocated. Box portion 2 also preferably has an upper wall or portion 18,on which the car body portion 4 can be mounted, as will be discussed.Bottom wall 16 preferably has means for providing rigidity andstability, such as ribs 22 extending horizontally across the bottomthereof, as shown in FIG. 3. It also preferably has connecting means(not shown), to allow the mailbox to be mounted onto a conventionalmailbox post.

Preferably, multiple wheel-like formations 20 are extended from upperportion 18 of box portion 2, and along parts of the side walls 10, 12.In this respect, each wheel-like formation 20 is preferably extended upfrom upper portion 18 of box portion 2 so that about one half of eachwheel-like formation 20 extends above the upper portion 18. From a topview, each wheel-like formation 20 preferably extends above the topsurface of upper portion 18, so that the top half of each formation 20is visible. The other lower half of each wheel-like formation 20 ispreferably extended downward, along side walls, 10, 12, such that theexterior portion or side of each wheel-like formation 20 extends outwardfrom the sides of side walls 10, 12, beyond the exterior dimension ofbox portion 2, and the lower interior portion of each wheel-likeformation 20 is hidden from view. In this last respect, each wheel-likeformation 20 is preferably located on box portion 2 such that they havethe appearance of having the lower interior portion embedded orotherwise buried inside box portion 2.

In the embodiment shown, box portion 2 is molded from plastic, and thewheel-like formations 20 are molded directly into box portion 2, as anintegral part thereof For example, a single injection mold can be usedto form box portion 2, along with wheel-like formations 20, which areincorporated into box portion 2. This allows the wheel-like formations20 to be easily formed and molded, at the same time that box portion 2is formed and molded, which simplifies the manufacturing steps, andtherefore, has the potential of reducing the manufacturing coststhereof.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-9, the car body portion 4 is alsocapable of being separated from box portion 25, but in theseembodiments, wheel-like formations 30 are formed separately and adaptedto be snapped into or otherwise connected to the box portion 25. Eachwheel-like formation 30 can essentially be identical and formed from asingle mold. The box portion 25, in such case, is preferably designedwith attachment means 32, as shown in FIGS. 7-9, which allow wheel-likeformations 30 to be easily snapped in or connected thereto. For example,attachment means 32 can be a round peg-like formation extending from boxportion 25, and a reciprocal hole or bore can be provided on the insidesurface of wheel-like formations 30, such that they can easily bemounted thereon. Any conventional means of mounting the wheel-likeformations 30 onto box portion 25 is contemplated.

Car body portion 4 is preferably in the shape of a miniature vehicle,such as a NASCAR racing car, although any wheeled vehicle, such as astandard automobile, truck, van, motorcycle, etc., can be replicated.When other types of vehicles are contemplated, the present inventionpreferably incorporates the appropriate number of wheel-like formations,20 or 30, on box portion, 2 or 25, to match the particular type ofvehicle involved. For example, if a motorcycle is used, box portion, 2or 25, would have only two wheel-like formations, 20 or 30, extendingfrom the middle of upper portion 18.

Car body portion 4 is preferably formed in the shape of a car body, butwithout wheels, to allow car body portion 4 to be mounted on top of boxportion, 2 or 25, above the wheel-like formations, 20 or 30, such thatthe wheel-like formations, 20 or 30, have the appearance of beingconnected to car body portion 4. The car body portion 4 preferably hasopen fender areas 24 with the appropriate size and spacing, which arelined up to match the four wheel-like formations, 20 or 30, such thatwhen car body portion 4 is mounted on box portion, 2 or 25, thewheel-like formations, 20 or 30, are positioned respectively within theappropriate open fender areas 24. This way, when car body portion 4 ismounted on box portion, 2 or 25, there is the appearance that thewheel-like formations, 20 or 30, form the wheels that are part of thecar body portion 4.

A plurality of connectors 26, as shown in FIG. 3, are preferablyprovided on the inside of car body portion 4, which allow car bodyportion 4 to be easily mounted onto box portion 2 and removed whennecessary. For example, the four connectors 26 can be extendedvertically down from inside car body portion 4, wherein each connector26 can be provided with a female screw mounting hole 27 for mountingonto the upper portion 18 of box portion 2. A male screw mount with ahole (not shown) can be extended up on reciprocal areas from upperportion 18, so that a screw can be inserted from inside box portion 2and into the mounting holes 27 on connectors 26, to mount car bodyportion 4 onto box portion 2, i.e., by tightening the screws from insidecompartment 5.

FIGS. 5-9 show upper portion 18 of box portion 25 with connectingsurfaces 34 extended thereon, wherein the connecting surfaces 34 areadapted to enable car body portion 4 to be mounted thereon at apredetermined height and position. Any conventional means of mountingcar body portion 4 onto box portion 25 is contemplated. In theseembodiments, it can be seen that the four connecting surfaces 34 aresituated on extended areas 35 on top of box portion 25, wherein theextended areas 35 are adapted to form the four attachments means 32, onwhich the four wheel-like formations 30 can be secured.

Car body portion 4 is preferably formed from plastic, although notnecessarily so, from a single injection mold. Because there are nowheels that have to be formed with car body portion 4, the car bodyportion 4 is easier to manufacture, i.e., than had the wheels beenformed on car body portion 4. This way, the cost of producingreplacement car body portions 4 is reduced, to make it easier for carbody portions to be replaced, such as when a fan wants to place a newcar on the mailbox.

In the preferred NASCAR embodiment, the car body portion 4 is preferablyprovided with the same logos, emblems, and/or other designs that wouldnormally be found on a real NASCAR racing car. For example, they can beprovided with not only the driver's name and car number, but also thetypical forms of printed advertisements that are normally found onNASCAR cars, such as those sponsored by STP, HONDA, GOODYEAR, etc. Inthis respect, any sponsor or promoter who ordinarily uses NASCAR racingcars to promote their products and services could also use the mailboxesof the present invention to promote their products and services, usingsimilar promotional methods, but on mailboxes in miniature form.

1. A mailbox comprising: a box portion having a lid and having extendedtherefrom a plurality of wheel-like formations; a vehicle body portionhaving open fender areas on or near which wheels would ordinarily belocated, wherein said open fender areas are spaced and sized toaccommodate the wheel-like formations extended from said box portion;and a mount that enables the vehicle body portion to be mounted onto thebox portion, with the wheel-like formations fitted within the openfender areas, wherein said mount enables the vehicle body portion to beeasily mounted to said box portion and removed and replaced whendesired.
 2. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the box portion is moldedwith the wheel-like formations from a single integral piece of plastic.3. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body portion is moldedfrom a single integral piece of plastic without the wheel-likeformations.
 4. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the wheel-like formationsare adapted such that about one half of each formation extends above thebox portion, and about one half of each formation extends below theupper surface of the box portion, wherein the exterior side of eachformation extends outward from the side walls of the box portion.
 5. Themailbox of claim 1, wherein the wheel-like formations are formedseparately from the box portion, and adapted to be snapped into orotherwise connected to the box portion.
 6. The mailbox of claim 1,wherein the vehicle body portion is in the shape of a racing car body.7. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body portion is in theshape of an automobile.
 8. The mailbox of claim 1, wherein the vehiclebody portion is in the shape of a motorcycle, truck or van.
 9. Themailbox of claim 1, wherein there are at least four wheel-likeformations extended from the box portion.
 10. The mailbox of claim 1,wherein the lid is located on one end of the box portion, and thevehicle body portion is adapted to be mounted on said box portion suchthat it faces in the opposite direction as the one end.
 11. A method ofadapting a mailbox comprising: providing a box portion with a pluralityof wheel-like formations extended therefrom; providing a vehicle bodyportion having open fender areas on or near which wheels wouldordinarily be located, wherein said open fender areas are spaced andsized to accommodate the wheel-like formations extended from said boxportion; and enabling the vehicle body portion to be mounted onto thebox portion, with the wheel-like formations fitted within andaccommodated by the open fender areas, wherein said vehicle body portioncan be easily mounted to said box portion and removed and replaced whendesired.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the box portion is moldedwith the wheel-like formations from a single integral piece of plastic,and wherein the vehicle body portion is molded from a single integralpiece of plastic without the wheel-like formations.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the wheel-like formations are adapted such that aboutone half of each formation extends above the box portion, and about onehalf of each formation extends below the upper surface of the boxportion, wherein the exterior side of each formation extends outwardfrom the side walls of the box portion.
 14. The method of claim 11,wherein the wheel-like formations are formed separately from the boxportion, and adapted to be snapped into or otherwise connected to thebox portion.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle bodyportion is in the shape of a racing car body, automobile, motorcycle,truck or van.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein there are at leastfour wheel-like formations extended from the box portion.
 17. The methodof claim 11, wherein the lid is located on one end of the box portion,and the vehicle body portion is adapted to be mounted on said boxportion such that it faces in the opposite direction as the one end. 18.A method of providing advertising, comprising: providing a mailbox,wherein the mailbox has a box portion with a plurality of wheel-likeformations thereon, and a vehicle body portion having open fender areaswhere wheels would ordinarily be located, wherein said open fender areasare spaced and sized to accommodate the wheel-like formations extendedfrom said box portion; enabling the vehicle body portion to be mountedonto the box portion, with the wheel-like formations fitted within andaccommodated by the open fender areas, wherein said vehicle body portioncan be easily mounted to said box portion and removed and replaced whendesired; and providing advertising materials on the vehicle bodyportion, wherein said advertising materials are designed to replicateadvertising found on actual vehicles.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein different vehicle body portions with different advertisingmaterials are provided, such that the vehicle body portion on said boxportion can be replaced and substituted with a new vehicle body portion.